GOING HOME: Dixie enjoys 'just being herself' at her new home

A few weeks ago, Dixie went home -- not to a place where she was expected to be a watchdog, a lap dog or even her new owner's best friend. Dixie had come from an abusive background, and all anyone had ever hoped for her was that she would find a home where she could be happy.

In January, Dixie, a young hound mix, was rescued and brought to Dogs & Cats Forever after someone saw her "for sale" on the Internet for $30. Dixie was not house trained, and she was extremely shy, especially around men.

Dogs & Cats called upon volunteer Diana Traegler, who fosters for the shelter, to work with Dixie and help her to become adoptable. After 13 weeks, Dixie had become more comfortable with strangers, and was beginning to understand the concept of house training, but there was still much work to do. "I was discussing Dixie with a trainer," said Traegler, "and she told me that perhaps I had taken Dixie as far as I could, and that now it was meant for someone else to take her the rest of the way."

As luck would have it, while Traegler was delivering Chaz, a six-month-old terrier mix, from Dogs & Cats Forever to his new home, she met the "someone else" who would be perfect for Dixie. It was a man named Bobolino who had an affinity for animals that needed a second chance.

Bobolino, whose 2 ½-acre fenced property qualifies as a doggie playground, had found his three-year-old dog, Squirt, as an abused puppy. Bobolino adopted Chaz in April, as a playmate for Squirt, and after hearing Dixie's story from Traegler, decided that he had room for her, too.

Now, with help from Chaz and Squirt, Dixie's confidence has grown. She has even begun to approach Bobolino for an occasional scratch behind the ears. "They have this whole yard to play in," said Bobolino, "and at night when it's time to come in, we play ‘Catch me if you can.'" Watching Dixie having fun with her two canine buddies, Bobolino added, "They're just dogs being dogs."

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